At this moment, by opening two more acupoints, Zhu Ju’s cultivation had reached the Middle-Stage Innate realm, Breaking Four Acupoints.

He was not far from breaking through his fifth acupoint.

Two Eye Acupoints!

One Ear Acupoint!

One Nose Acupoint!

His hearing was sharp, his sight was clear, and all his senses were incredibly keen.

Everything in the world had become clearer than ever before.

The True Qi in his body had transformed from a narrow stream into a great river, surging endlessly through his meridians.

This was different from relying on an Outer Pill.

Circulating his True Qi was smoother, his control more effortless. With but a thought, his True Qi would surge forth.

SWISH!

The Five-Pointed Flying Sword shot out with unprecedented speed, appearing like five blurred lines as it closed in on his opponent’s face in an instant.

Hmm?

Cao Lei’s brows twitched, and a flash of surprise crossed his face. He apparently hadn’t expected Zhu Ju’s attack to be so swift.

But...

It was far from enough to threaten him.

SWISH!

Several rays of Spiritual Light shot from his body like nimble Swimming Fish, crashing toward the incoming Flying Sword.

CLANG...

A melodious clashing sound rang out.

The Five-Pointed Flying Sword staggered backward. It spun in mid-air, forming a ring of swords that tangled and clashed with the Spiritual Light.

Zhu Ju narrowed his eyes, his expression surprised.

"A Sword Talisman?"

"That’s right," Cao Lei sneered.

"I’ve been in the Bright Void Sect for over forty years. You really think I wouldn’t have a trick or two up my sleeve?"

"This Sword Talisman is formed from a Dragon-Shaped Talisman. Although it’s not a High Grade Spiritual Artifact, it’s more agile than a Middle Grade Flying Sword."

A Sword Talisman was not a Magical Artifact.

It was a Talisman.

Talismans that could be refined into Sword Talismans were all extremely rare, and in terms of value, they were on par with High Grade Spiritual Artifacts.

They were even more expensive, in fact.

This was because Sword Talismans consumed very little True Qi, so even an Early-stage Innate Qi Refiner could wield one.

In Cao Lei’s hands, its power was even greater.

The Dragon-Shaped Sword Light separated and reformed as it crashed into the Five-Pointed Flying Sword. Each impact made the Flying Sword falter for a moment.

With continuous impacts, it could even shatter the Flying Sword outright.

The Five-Pointed Flying Sword was, after all, only a Low Grade Spiritual Artifact.

SWISH!

Even as they spoke, neither man stopped fighting. Cao Lei flicked his long sleeve, and a hook-like Magical Artifact shot out.

The Black Death Hook!

A Middle Grade Spiritual Artifact.

It was infused with Profound Yin Evil Qi, specializing in Breaking Techniques and defiling one’s Physical Body. To be caught by its hook was a certain death sentence.

CLANG...

A flash of light from the Cross and Vertical Saber knocked the incoming Black Death Hook aside, and in the next instant, Zhu Ju’s figure blurred as he charged right up to Cao Lei.

Ghost God Limit!

A vicious blade of light whistled down.

"Nice try!"

Cao Lei wore a vicious grin.

"Let’s see just how much of Eldest Brother’s skill is in that Ghost God Limit of yours!"

A Soft Sword shot from his sleeve like a nimble snake, piercing the blade of light from a bizarre angle.

Profound Yin Ghostly Sword Technique!

This Sword Technique was sinister, cold, and treacherous, with astonishing killing power. The Soft Sword’s twisting and bending made it all the more unpredictable.

Though both were Innate Qi Refiners at the Breaking Six Acupoints level, the strength Cao Lei displayed was more than a notch above Weii Ning’s.

CLANG...

Saber and sword collided.

Zhu Ju’s eyes focused, and two inch-long beams of white light shot from his pupils, slashing out like phantom blades.

Soul-Stabilizing and Soul-Slaying Divine Light!

He had never intended to compete with his Saber Technique. His true goal was to use the opening to get close, lock eyes, and unleash his Divine Soul Secret Technique.

Previously, when he had immobilized Weii Ning, he had only broken through Two Acupoints, and his Magic Cultivation was merely at the early stage of a Great Mage.

But now...

Having broken two more acupoints and been nourished by Pei Jingque’s Primordial Energy, his Divine Soul Power was likely on par with that of a Peak Great Mage.

It might even be comparable to a True Man’s!

The power of this Divine Soul Secret Technique had naturally skyrocketed as well.

Cao Lei’s movements suddenly stiffened, his eyes filled with terror. He could only watch helplessly as the blade descended.

He was completely powerless to fight back.

Hmm?

Just as the Cross and Vertical Saber was about to decapitate his opponent, a warning suddenly blared in Zhu Ju’s mind, and he retreated frantically.

BOOM!

Dozens of black shadows erupted from Cao Lei’s body, lashing out wildly like tentacles.

CLANG!

The Five-Pointed Flying Sword let out a mournful cry, its Spirituality instantly plummeting.

If he had retreated a step later, he feared he would have shared the Flying Sword’s fate; even if he hadn’t died, he would have been severely injured.

"What kind of Magic was that?"

Cao Lei, drenched in sweat, backed away with fear in his eyes.

"It... It can ignore the Physical Body and directly attack the Primordial Spirit?"

"And how are you unharmed?" Zhu Ju was just as baffled.

"Heh..." Hearing this, Cao Lei sneered, the fear in his eyes vanishing. He shook his head and spoke.

"Don’t you know? The Major Immortal Sects plant Restrictions in the Primordial Spirits of some of their disciples. This serves two purposes: first, to protect the disciple’s Primordial Spirit from invasion by Outer Demons, and second, to ensure that Core True Inheritances are never leaked."

"Otherwise, why would we go to all this trouble over one Pei Jingque? We could have just captured her directly."

Such a measure had to be personally implemented by a Dao Foundation True Man, so naturally, it could withstand the Soul-Stabilizing and Soul-Slaying Divine Light.

Pei Jingque was a Core True Inheritance disciple, and he, as a hidden agent planted by the Joyful Sect, likewise had a Secret Technique protecting his Primordial Spirit.

"So it seems that was your trump card."

Cao Lei flicked his wrist, and the Soft Sword instantly became rigid.

"Die!"

The Black Death Hook and Dragon-Shaped Sword Talisman spun around him, while the Soft Sword flickered between tangible and illusory as he lunged viciously at Zhu Ju.

CLANG...

The Cross and Vertical Saber made a phantom slash.

Zhu Ju’s eyes were dark and profound. He swung the long saber in his hands, clashing relentlessly with the incoming Sword Talisman and Magical Artifact.

For a time, he surprisingly held his ground.

It was true he was at the Breaking Four Acupoints stage, but he had also opened his Forehead Ancestral Acupoint, making him equivalent to an Innate Qi Refiner who had broken through five acupoints.

Moreover, he had the assistance of his Inner Core.

The gap between them wasn’t as large as one might imagine.

In fact...

If Zhu Ju hadn’t just broken through and was still adapting to his new strength, the situation might have been even more in his favor.

Ghost God Limit—Broken Moon Knocking!

A leisurely arc of saber light swept around, forcing all the incoming attacks back in unison.

Cao Lei’s expression gradually darkened.

He hadn’t expected Zhu Ju to be so strong, especially since it had only been a few years since he’d reached the Innate realm.

"What an excellent Saber Technique!"

"What incredible Talent!"

"Now I’m starting to understand why Pei Jingque chose you to cure her poison at the last second."

"A pity..."

"Now die!"

He opened his mouth and spat, and a blast of Black Wind rushed out.

Wherever the all-eroding Black Wind passed, solid mountain rock instantly disintegrated, and a layer of the earth was violently scoured away.

Secret Technique—Bone-Devouring Wind!

This kind of Method was indifferent to the strength of an opponent’s Saber Technique. Once the Black Wind swept over, the only option was to endure it head-on.

As a sleeper agent who had lain dormant for decades, Cao Lei naturally had his own aces up his sleeve.

Hmm?

Just as the Black Wind was raging, a familiar figure suddenly appeared behind Zhu Ju.

Pei Jingque!

’How could it be?’

"Junior Brother Cao, to think you’re a traitor!"

Pei Jingque’s voice was ice-cold as she extended a fair hand.

"Die!"

’It’s over!’

Cao Lei was so terrified his heart nearly stopped. Even his control over the Black Wind faltered, and Zhu Ju seized the opening to rush in and slash him across the back.

SPURT!

As he spat a mouthful of blood, he saw that the Pei Jingque before him was still standing motionless with her hand extended, just like a Puppet.

’Something’s wrong!’

SWISH!

The Black Death Hook shot out, slicing through ’Pei Jingque.’ With a puff of white smoke, all that remained were fragments of a painted scroll.

A Paperman!

"Dammit!"

Cao Lei roared and spun around, only to see another familiar figure drifting down lightly from the sky.

"Junior Brother Cao, Junior Brother Zhu, what are you two doing?"

Zhongli Changuang looked surprised.

"Stop it at once!"

As she spoke, she leaped toward them.

"Senior Sister!"

Cao Lei’s heart pounded. Just as he opened his mouth to explain, a flash of saber light shot out from Zhongli Changuang’s abdomen.

Asking the Way in the Underworld!

SPURT!

His chest and abdomen torn open, Cao Lei screamed and stumbled backward. The image of Zhongli Changuang also vanished in a puff of white smoke.

"AH!"

"AHH..."

"BASTARD!"

"You deserve to die! You deserve to die!"

Having been tricked repeatedly, Cao Lei roared in fury, unleashing a crazed assault with his Magical Artifact, Sword Talisman, and Sword Light.

Light and shadow flickered ahead, suddenly resolving into five figures.

The Blinding Banner!

The Skin Painting Technique!

BOOM!

Violent Powerful Qi raged across the field as dust and smoke filled the air. Cao Lei, gasping for breath, roared at the scene before him:

"Zhu! If you have any guts, stop playing dirty! Let’s settle this head-on!"

"You, a mole, are calling me dirty?" Zhu Ju chuckled, his figure abruptly materializing in front of Cao Lei.

"But..."

"As you wish!"

A giant palm materialized in his Sea of Consciousness, pulsing with five-colored halos. His left hand dipped slightly, then shot out with sudden force.

Five Mountains Flipping Heaven!

"Bring it on!"

Cao Lei’s eyes lit up. His Soft Sword, Sword Talisman, and Magical Artifact converged abruptly, blasting toward the incoming palm.

’Even if Zhu Ju has cultivated the Earth Evil Mysterious Skill to the Perfection Realm,’ he thought, ’this attack will shatter his arm to pieces.’

BOOM!

Powerful Qi roared.

The moment the Dragon-Shaped Sword Light neared the palm, it was instantly repelled by a powerful force field. The Black Death Hook let out a piercing shriek upon contact, its Spiritual Light dimming drastically.

As for the Soft Sword...

CRACK!

It shattered on the spot.

Zhu Ju’s left hand was like an indestructible iron club, ignoring all incoming attacks as it slammed directly into Cao Lei’s arm.

The terrifying Strength first shattered his arm, then his shoulder, and then the entire right side of his body.

It was an inhuman power,

Immense and unstoppable!

THUMP!

Cao Lei was sent flying sideways, landing heavily on the ground.

Zhu Ju wasn’t in good shape either. Enveloped by the Bone-Devouring Wind, his Physical Body was on the verge of being eroded away.

BZZZZ...

A ball of Spiritual Light emerged from his body.

The Bone-Devouring Wind collided with the Spiritual Light, producing a series of sharp crackles before dissipating into the air.

Cao Lei,

Was dead!

"Whew..."

Zhu Ju let out a long breath. He opened his palm to find that the Protective Spirit Talisman Pei Jingque had given him was now shattered.

*

*

*

Pei Jingque felt as if she’d been dreaming. A dream filled with extreme pleasure, yet also tinged with pain.

Then, a warm sensation washed over her, and the pressure that had weighed on her heart for so long silently eased.

’How many years has it been?’

She couldn’t remember the last time she had slept so soundly.

"Mmm..."

She hummed softly.

Pei Jingque stretched her arms, loosening her Tendons and Bones. She let out a contented sigh and slowly opened her beautiful eyes.

Hmm?

’Wait!’

As if realizing something, she shot to her feet. She touched her clothes, her face turning slightly red.

"Zhu... Junior Brother."

"How long was I asleep?"

"About a day." Zhu Ju was sitting cross-legged on a nearby rock. Hearing her, he asked,

"Are you feeling better, Senior Sister?"

"I am." Glancing at their surroundings, Pei Jingque’s beautiful eyes flickered.

"Did we run into trouble while I was asleep?"

"Yes," Zhu Ju nodded.

"But it’s already been dealt with."

"That’s good..." Pei Jingque opened her mouth, unsure what to say for a moment. She then asked, somewhat stiffly,

"How are you?"

"Very good." Zhu Ju stood up and stretched a bit.

"I’ve broken through four acupoints and am not far from the fifth. My Earth Evil True Body has also reached the Great Success stage."

"Thanks to you, Senior Sister, my strength has improved by leaps and bounds!"

"..." Pei Jingque’s expression was complicated.

"That’s good."

’The Innate Primordial Yin Qi I nurtured for so many years could have increased my chances of reaching the Dao Foundation Realm by twenty percent.’

’But in the end...’

’It was all for nothing.’

’Not only that,’

’by dual-cultivating the "take from the surplus to supplement the deficient" Joyful Technique with Zhu Ju, my cultivation has even regressed slightly.’

’Although I haven’t fallen out of the Nine Acupoints realm, it will probably take some time to consolidate my cultivation again.’

As these thoughts turned in her mind, she tried to circulate her True Qi, and her expression suddenly changed.

’What’s going on?’

’My cultivation clearly regressed, so why does circulating my True Qi feel more fluid? And why are my senses so much sharper?’

’My Primordial Spirit...’

’It seems to have grown a bit stronger?’